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Getting Started
Whether you have a postage stamp garden or a 5-acre field there is always something to be done to improve our native flora &amp; fauna ‘s chances for survival and getting a good head start for spring. Winter is as good a time as any to get stuck in.
There’s a lot of information out there and it’s a case of sifting through it to find what’s really relevant and gives a full picture.
I’m no expert and all the information that I’m giving is through my own experiences and observations of starting a garden on a blank 4-acre field back in 2004.
<div id="attachment_2828" style="width: 324px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2828" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2828" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-300x225.jpg" alt="Garden 2013" width="314" height="236" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/P1040689-1080x810.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 314px) 100vw, 314px" />New Hydrangea bed 2013</div>
Some of my recommendations will require a little investment of time and/or purchasing a shrub, plant or tree.
Others can give instant gratification and pleasure.
For instance, with Christmas fast approaching this could be a great time to get your spring garden off to a productive start. Good garden centres will have a stock of early spring bulbs already potted up which make lovely gifts and can then be transplanted into the garden to flower and provide a food source in subsequent years.
There are a few things to note though, while all the modern hybridization and engineering has produced bigger blooms in a myriad of colours this has been at the expense of nectar and pollen rendering them useless as a food source and especially modern pansies, polyanthus that are nothing more than floral deserts. These modern varieties are bred solely for humans and have no place in a wildlife friendly garden.
<div id="attachment_2829" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2829" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2829" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-300x169.jpg" alt="Hellebore Argutifolius" width="384" height="216" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_0144-1080x608.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" />Helleborus argutifolius Corsican hellebore</div>
If you’re looking for something a little more substantial and would like some evergreen winter colour and fragrance, then look no further than Mahonia. I can’t sing their praises enough, they are magnificently architectural, will tolerate shade, winter flowering, low maintenance and produces pollen and nectar in abundance. It provides a vital food source for honeybees if temperatures are warm enough, hoverflies, bumblebees especially Bombus terrestris who remain active here on the farm during winter. As a bonus from the pollination, they are dripping in edible miniature black grapes in early spring which I do leave to the birds, a firm favourite with my blackbirds.
There is a mahonia to suit most gardens from low growing varieties to tall shrubs reaching 15ft.
<div id="attachment_2830" style="width: 353px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2830" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2830" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-300x201.jpg" alt="Bumblebee lucorum Queen on Mahonia December 3rd 2019" width="343" height="230" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730.jpg 1031w" sizes="(max-width: 343px) 100vw, 343px" />Bumblebee Queen Bombus leucorum feasting on Mahonia December 3rd 2019</div>
Winter heather Erica carnea is another must-have plant and if you have room plant a swathe of them as bees like to move from flower to flower. If you have a large garden then I would suggest several clusters of 5 to 7 plants in each. Heather needs a reasonably rich soil that is moisture retentive and full sun, it also prefers acidic soil. While it takes a few years, they will make a wonderful ground cover carpet and another vital food source producing pollen and nectar for early emerging pollinators. They begin flowers as early as October and will go right through to April. These can be inter-planted with taller early spring bulbs like Fritillaria meleagris the snakes head fritillary, a bumblebee beacon!! With snowdrops, crocus and winter aconites around the edges as they would become swamped by the heather as it spread.
<div id="attachment_2831" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2831" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2831" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/118-1080x810.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />mixed planting of pollinator-friendly flowers including chives, lupin, libertia and poppy</div>
Native species will always provide the best food and flower at the most appropriate time for our pollinators and birds alike. Willow (Salix) is the best of them although not suitable for a small garden because of its long root system. If you do have room then our goat, grey and eared willow are great choices for the larger garden and osiers for a small garden as they don’t make trees and are best cut down to near ground level like dogwoods (Cornus) for their attractive colourful stems, do this after flowering and enjoy the winter stems and the birds and bees can enjoy the flowers and catkins.
<div id="attachment_2832" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2832" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2832" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191220_085702-1080x810.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Corylus avellana &#8216;Contorta&#8217; corkscrew hazel catkins</div>
Birds like the willow warblers and Chiffchaff will welcome the food source of insects and you can enjoy their pretty song and if you’re lucky one of our annual visitors the grasshopper warbler all the way from Africa with its unique grasshopper call!! One of the highlights of my summer.
<div id="attachment_2867" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2867" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2867" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149-1080x1620.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/149.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Tablescape using edible flowers from Bumblebee Flower Farm</div>

The joys and rewards from wildlife gardening are so much more than hearing a bird sing or a bee buzz, Our mental and physical health benefits too and it’s a wonderful place for our children and grandchildren to connect and cultivate an understanding and appreciation of our natural world.
<div id="attachment_2833" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2833" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2833" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015-1080x810.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Top-of-the-garden-2015.jpg 1296w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Hydrangea bed by 2015 Astilbes looking magnificent</div>
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Until next time bee kind
Mags xx

Getting Started!

Provenance, what is it? Why is it important? Does it really matter where things come from, how many miles they have traveled, who and what has been poisoned in the process…Food provenance means knowing the root of where your food has come from and knowing how that food was produced, transported and delivered to you.
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We’ve all seen how this has been distorted by large companies purely for profit that doesn’t stay in the local community. As individuals we do have power and that’s in how we choose to
<div id="attachment_1608" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1608" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1608" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-300x228.jpg" alt="Seasonal Hand-tied" width="300" height="228" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-300x228.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-768x584.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-1024x778.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min-1080x821.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Autumn_Market-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Bumblebee Bouquet</div>
spend our Euro, the only way to get big corporations to change how they do business is by not supporting them financially. They are driven purely by profit and if you are reducing that by making ethical shopping choices then they will have to respond by cleaning up their act so to speak.
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Buying locally and seasonally is better for you and certainly better for the planet. Seasonality applies just as much to flowers as it does to food in my opinion.
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I’ve been doing some serious market research lately and was a pleasantly surprised to hear that the provenance of my flowers was top of the list as important to my customers. This is a huge turnaround from when I started growing cut flowers almost 10 years ago, people didn’t care where they came from or how they were grown because they weren’t eating them but what’s the first thing you do when you receive flowers, you stick your nose into them and take a big long sniff, if you compost them you’re contaminating your compost with the residues of chemicals in the commercial growing process.
<div id="attachment_1719" style="width: 365px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1719" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-1719" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-300x110.jpg" alt="Summer flowers" width="355" height="130" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-300x110.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-768x281.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-1024x375.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1-1080x396.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Old-WEdding-banner-min-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px" />Summer scents &#8216;Lilies&#8217;</div>
This is precisely why we stopped supplementing our crop with imports seven years ago, I struggled to get rid of the contaminated foliage and realized I was part of the problem by supporting an industry that I had such misgivings about regarding their ethics.
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It hasn’t been easy, turning work away at a time of year when you could badly do with income. For several years, being on the breadline so to speak but I have a social and moral obligation to protect the flora and fauna that resides with us as much as trying to provide a safe future for our children. It’s a little scary sometimes when you stand up for something you believe in and hold true to your values, especially when those values can’t pay the mortgage. I’m happy to say I’ve turned it around because you as a consumer are asking about the Provenance of your flowers and for that I’m very grateful.
<div id="attachment_2823" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2823" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2823" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-300x200.jpg" alt="Summer nectar rich plant Scabiosa" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-1080x720.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Tortoise shell butterflies on Scabiosa</div>
There’s still a bit of ‘I’m alright Jack’ it’s not happening on my doorstep, so it doesn’t affect me, but it does in the long run because we are all connected. We’ve become desensitized to buzz words like ‘Climate Change’ and Global Warming’ and there is a bit of ‘Ostrich Syndrome’ about. We desperately need to take our heads out of the sand and make those ethical choices that will help save our beautiful planet.
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We firmly believe that you can cultivate beauty that has a supportive and positive effect on our environment and that’s why we grow our produce the way we do here at Bumblebee Flower Farm in a magical part of West Cork along the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way.
Let’s all help keep our part of the world beautiful and clean by supporting local producers and communities.
<div id="attachment_2824" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2824" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2824" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow-1080x1621.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Burnished-Glow.jpg 1632w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Winter seasonal mix</div>
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Provenance, what is it!!!

<img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2847 aligncenter" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1-300x201.jpg" alt="" width="419" height="281" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1.jpg 1031w" sizes="(max-width: 419px) 100vw, 419px" />
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Any of you that have followed along for the last 10 years or so know how passionate I am about protecting wildlife, especially my beloved bumblebees.
I know there’s a myriad of information out there and sometimes it&#8217;s confusing and generic.
I’m going to share what I do and hope it will help make sense of some things and why you do them.
Firstly there are 21 species of bumblebee in Ireland, 15 true bumblebees and 6 cuckoo bumblebees.
The queens can emerge from hibernation anytime from mid-February to June.
Without bogging you down I’ll concentrate on the 5 early emerging ones for now.
Bombus lucorum (white tailed bumblebee)
<div id="attachment_2840" style="width: 699px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2840" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2840" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen-300x237.jpg" alt="" width="689" height="544" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen-300x237.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 689px) 100vw, 689px" />Stunning shot of white tailed bumblebee B. lucorum Image from Bumblebee conservation</div>
Bombus terrestris (buff tailed bumblebee)
<div id="attachment_2841" style="width: 444px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2841" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2841" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-terrestris.jpg" alt="" width="434" height="373" />Buff tailed bumblebee B terrestris clearly showing buff/ off white tail</div>
Bombus hypenorum ( tree bumblebee) newcomer to the party first observed in Stephen’s Green in 2017
<div id="attachment_2842" style="width: 601px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2842" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2842" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-300x239.jpg" alt="" width="591" height="471" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-300x239.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-768x613.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px" />Tree bumblebee B. hypnorum interesting ginger thorax with white tail barely visible</div>
All these are in the category of white tailed bumblebees
Bombus pratorum ( early bumblebee) one of the smallest and cutest
<div id="attachment_2843" style="width: 531px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2843" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2843" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1-300x243.jpg" alt="" width="521" height="422" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1-300x243.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 521px) 100vw, 521px" />Early bumblebee B .pratorum</div>
Bombus lapidarius (red tailed bumblebee)
<div id="attachment_2844" style="width: 449px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2844" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2844" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-lapidarius.jpg" alt="" width="439" height="374" />red tailed bumblebee b.lapidarius one of my favorite bumblebees</div>
These are in the category of red tailed bumblebees.
 Looking at their tail colour is the first step in identification. That&#8217;s another topic altogether it&#8217;s a veritable minefield!!
All of these are short tongued bumblebees so it&#8217;s no wonder early spring flowers are usually single daisy type flowers like primrose, hellebores and buttercups. Others include gorse, dandelion, winter flowering heather and snowdrops. Trees and shrubs including willow, hazel, viburnum tinus and mahonia.
When the queens emerge first they are pretty hungry and barely have enough strength to fly so her first step is to fill up with nectar from easily accessible flowers like the ones mentioned above.
Bumblebees need a minimum body temperature of 30 degrees to be able to fly, they does this by what&#8217;s called shivering where they can uncouple their wings so the wings don’t move, they then shiver to raise the thorax temperature, this is the middle section of a bee between the head and abdomen, when its up to temperature they can take flight. We&#8217;ve all seen bumblebee queens weak and not moving early in the season and this is the reason why.
It&#8217;s interesting to know how long it takes to reach optimum if she is at 24 degrees then only a few seconds but if she goes down to 13 degrees then it can take her 5 minutes but if it goes down to 6 degrees then it will take up to 15 minutes.
So please leave your dandelions and buttercups. They can be the difference between life and death to her and without her there will be no colony and no bees in the summer.
. After she has fueled up with nectar its straight off to find a reliable source of pollen and this is in abundance in willow especially our native goat Salix caprea and grey salix cinerea. This plumps up her now shriveled ovaries .
 Interestingly willows are either male or female ( there are exceptions as always) and are actually insect pollinated but seed dispersal is by wind. Male flowers supply pollen and nectar but female mainly nectar. This is an incredibly important group not only for insects but as we move up the food chain as a food source for birds which feed on the insects. Biodiversity!
So off they go and start building their nests..
Please do pop back next week and I’ll share my tuppence worth on that stage.
Bee kind
Mags xx

Why we need certain flowers for early emerging Queens!

Do you ever give serious thought to your wedding bouquet!! Next to your beautiful gown it’s the most important accessory, it’s in every photo and after your dress it’s the next thing to be scrutinized by your guests!!
<div id="attachment_2851" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2851" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2851" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572-1080x1620.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_4572.jpg 1343w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Morgan&#8217;s Flowing Waterfall Cascade Bridal Bouquet</div>
Emma Jarvis photography
Most likely you’ll have a theme and an inspiration board. These are a fabulous tool to help you pull everything together and whether you are using a florist or floral designer, either bring it with you or email it to them.
We all have such different ideas of what’s a wildflower, boho, romantic or formal bouquet. Its what you think and want that’s important so for the person creating your bouquet give them something to interpret and work with. The more visuals you have the easier it will be to guide you in the right direction regarding flower choices, colours and the final overall look and feel.
Colour is another thing that’s really personal and while Pan-tone will have colour trends it’s what floats your boat that you should focus on and not be dictated to by fashion that’s so fleeting.
My advice is choose the style and colours that suit your personality and if that’s loud and vibrant then go for it!! It’s your day.

<div id="attachment_2853" style="width: 399px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2853" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2853" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="389" height="259" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AA-169-1080x719.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px" />Ashley&#8217;s stunning Seasonal summer bouquet Kate Bean Photography</div>
Pastels and neutrals are timeless and wouldn’t look out of place in most venues. Your dress style and your height are also something to consider. If your dress is fussy or detailed then a simple bouquet wouldn’t be out of place, the taller you are then the longer the bouquet can be, it’s all about dimensions and ratio.
The same applies to the loose ‘unstructured’ look so popular these days, there is symmetry at work here and balance creating a just gathered look takes skill, expertise and an understanding of natural materials and is very difficult to achieve with stiff commercial flowers.

<div id="attachment_2854" style="width: 235px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2854" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2854" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200109_210627-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200109_210627-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200109_210627-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200109_210627.jpg 798w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />Summer pastels Kate Bean Photography</div>
I am pleased to see ethical weddings on the increase, this trend of Eco-conscious sustainable and environmentally friendly nuptials gets my seal of approval. The conscious move away from unsustainable single use waste is so much better for us and especially the planet. Choosing ethical wedding attire has never been easier, Hotels are working hard on being greener, stationery and jewellery as ethical options are all there too.
Being more mindful of your impact on the environment can give opportunities to create something really special and have a positive lasting effect. If you are choosing an ethical florist and plan ahead you could have seed of certain flower varieties saved and presented as wedding favors to be planted in memory of your special day. Take it to another level and choose edible varieties which can be flowering and ready to harvest for your first anniversary dinner, how cool is that!!
<div id="attachment_2855" style="width: 304px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2855" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-2855" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Almost-there-300x200.jpg" alt="Table setting using edible flowers" width="294" height="196" />Table Setting using all edible flowers Inspire Photography</div>

Ethical flowers are life-giving.  They aren’t just flowers they’re the source for the food we eat and this is made possible by pollination, which turns the flower into a seed and continues the cycle of life. They are also the essence of so much of what we use daily from beauty products to medicinal support to food for animals.  And, they are a life-giving source of joy, we need joy to sustain us.
<div id="attachment_2823" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2823" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2823" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-300x200.jpg" alt="Summer nectar rich plant Scabiosa" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tortoise-shells-on-scaboisa-1080x720.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Tortoise shell butterflies on Scabiosa</div>

Have fun and create some magical memories!!
Bee kind
Mags xx

The positive effects of Seasonal blooms!

February the 14th brings out the romantic in most of us and we do love to mark it with a token of our affection but the sad truth is from an environmental point of view it’s really bad news!
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But there are ways you can celebrate it without it ‘Costing the Earth’ and reduce the environmental impact and create lasting memories with the added bonus of supporting local businesses that care.
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<ol>
<li>Flowers! The number purchase which has the highest negative environmental impact due to the pesticides used in production and the carbon footprint because of the thousands of miles they have to travel to get to you. If you must have roses then please opt for fairtrade ones that at least support and provide local workers with safe, healthy working conditions and limit their pesticide use.</li>
</ol>
Your best option is to source local producers that can offer sustainable grown seasonal flowers. In Ireland that will not be roses.
Alternatively, give a gift voucher for a workshop or flower subscription when there are more local flowers available.
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<ol start="2">
<li>Chocolate! Cocoa only grows in warm climates and travels even further than flowers with the same heavy reliance on toxic pesticide use and is fueling rapid deforestation and loss of habitat.</li>
</ol>
Fairtrade chocolate again supports local people and provides better working conditions. There are some wonderful producers here in Ireland who craft incredible chocolate so there’s no excuse!
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<ol start="3">
<li>Eating out! You can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of your meal by supporting restaurants that support local producers and ingredients. This is good for all of us because income stays in the locality and keeps people in work.</li>
</ol>
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<ol start="4">
<li>Cards! The deforestation that occurs to provide millions of mass-produced cards that will be consigned to the dustbin in 5 minutes breaks my heart! There are other ways if you must have a card then seek out a locally made one that uses recycled or eco-friendly materials. Most small independent stores and craft shops will have a supply of these and again it’s keeping things in our locality!</li>
</ol>
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<ol start="5">
<li>Jewellery! Positive choices with positive purchases! Antique, vintage pieces are a lovely option. There are some fantastic talented jewellery designers in Ireland that are thoughtful in their design and materials, sourcing their ingredients that adhere to strict working conditions, trade and environmental protocols.</li>
</ol>
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I hope that gives you food for thought and encourages you to think outside the box. There are so many other ways to have a positive Valentine&#8217;s day and help create a future we can all be proud of and leave the planet in a better condition than we found it!
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Happy Valentines Day!!
Bee Kind
Mags xx

5 ways to make your Valentines day more Eco-friendly!

You’ve settled on your date and are making a conscious effort to be more thoughtful about the environmental impact of your wedding. The biggest decision will be your venue including your menu choices. Next step wedding flowers which I’ll give a few tips on sourcing eco-friendly options.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1929" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wild-flower-wedding-bouquet-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wild-flower-wedding-bouquet-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wild-flower-wedding-bouquet.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Early Summer bridal bouquet
Its no secret regarding the atrocious negative impact commercial flowers have on our health and the health of our planet from the herbicides, pesticides and fungicides used in their production. Many of them banned in developed countries but still used in developing countries like Brazil, Colombia and South Africa. To the air miles transporting them thousands of miles across the world. If you are choosing a regular florist them do ask for fairtrade flowers at least these will be produced in a more caring environmental manner. Please choose your arrangements carefully and avoid single-use formaldehyde filled floral foam, this product is leaching into our watercourses and contaminating our fish and the water we drink.
<div id="attachment_2310" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2310" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2310" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-300x200.jpg" alt="Foam Free arrangement" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min-1080x719.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Wedding_pg-full-design-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Foam free spring wedding</div>
If on the other hand, you are choosing a farmer florist, then in West cork alone you have quite a few choices from Ruth Fortune flowers in Glandore and Howehill Farm in Killbrittan who also supply certified edible flowers. If you go across the county you will find many more.
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You have the power to exact change with your buying choices and for the better of the local economy, health and wellbeing of our planet and thus ensuring a positive future.
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Choose seasonal flowers by that I mean flowers that grow naturally in a particular season.
<div id="attachment_2288" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2288" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2288" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-300x200.jpg" alt="Wrist Corsage" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min-1080x721.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Corsage-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Eco-friendly wrist corsage</div>
Trends for 2020 and beyond are for more flowing unstructured designs, these are so much easier to create with naturally grown flowers than the straight ridged commercial stems. Naturally grown flowers and herbs will fill your venue with the most wonderful fragrance and leave a lasting memory with your guests.
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Re-gift your flowers so someone else can go on and enjoy them. Donate to a local hospital or nursing home, flowers are uplifting and if they are organically grown there are added health and emotional benefits too, they will keep on giving!
<div id="attachment_1638" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1638" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1638" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-300x204.jpg" alt="Autumnal seasonla flowers for weddings" width="300" height="204" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-300x204.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-1024x695.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min-1080x733.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mixed-Market-style-bouquets-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Autumnal mix for wedding flowers</div>
Spring flowers include Scented narcissus, hyacinth, tulips, anemones, ranunculus, calendula, with Iris, sweet William, allium, gyp and antirrhinum and undercover.
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Summer flowers Roses, campanula, foxgloves, dahlia, marigold, feverfew, lavatera, scabious, triteleia, sweet William and alstroemeria with an incredible variety of scented herbs as filers or focals in their own right.
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Autumn flowers Roses, dahlia, asters, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, sweet William, amaranth, gomphrena, antirrhinum, grasses and rudbeckias.
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This is not an exhaustive list but gives you an idea of the wealth of flowers to choose from and many of these varieties have a full range of colours to choose from.
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We grow a couple of thousand dahlias in wonderful shapes, sizes and colours here on the farm.
<div id="attachment_3028" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3028" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3028" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-300x200.jpg" alt="Sustainably grown irish dahias" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/128-1080x720.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Dahlia tunnel early September</div>
With a little thought and planning you can have the florals of your dreams and they ‘won’t have cost the earth’
Let’s all work together for a future we would like to live.
&nbsp;
Mags xx
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Sustainable Wedding Flowers. Working together to save our future!

I’d like to share a little bit about our flower and foliage choices and why they’re important to our wildlife.
Due largely to climate change resulting in warmer winters Bumblebee Queens are coming out of hibernation more frequently and are now being seen regularly during the winter months.
It’s yet to be determined what the long-term implications will be, studies have been carried out but only on farmed bumblebees nothing on our wild bees. There are two schools of thought, a longer active season may facilitate a second or third colony and increase their numbers or on the other hand,
starting a colony too early leaves them vulnerable to extreme weather like we experienced in 2018 and could kill them thus losing anything from 50 to 500 pollinators and no new queens for the following year.
To help them cope with the ever-changing weather patterns it’s critically important to have a year-round supply of available nectar food for them. Because our early emerging bumblebees are all short-tongued, flower structure and quality of nectar are also incredibly important. This is why we have an abundance of suitable flowers so early in the season and some of these we use in our bouquets such as hyacinth, scented narcissus, anemone and early sweet William. Our flowering foliage like winter heather and skimmia is of equal importance as a superb nectar source.
<div id="attachment_3024" style="width: 252px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3024" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3024" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bumblebee-Gift-of-Life-Bouquet.jpg" alt="Sustainable eco-friendly valentines bouquet" width="242" height="265" />Bumblebee spring &#8216;Gift of Life Bouquet&#8217;</div>
Our foliage choices are governed by our need for windbreaks and nesting sites for our wild birds. Cryptomeria and Cupressus are favoured nesting sites by our smaller wild birds like wrens and blackbirds. We harvest these varieties during the winter months as cut foliage but are off-limits during the nesting seasons as unwittingly human interference can cause nest failure.
While our main focus is on our pollinators to ensure a steady supply of food to support all the stages of their life cycles, we are also mindful of all the animals that live with us and prioritise our work around their needs. From not being to tidy and leaving hollow spent stalks as overwintering sites for ladybirds some hoverflies and solitary bees these in return act as natural pest control as well as pollination.
<div id="attachment_3117" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3117" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3117" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-200x300.jpg" alt="supporting wildlife in the garden" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-1363x2048.jpg 1363w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-1080x1623.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-scaled.jpg 1704w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Dying stems are a wonderful overwintering resource</div>
Our offerings change with the seasons including who and what they support.
Our spring flowers include Hyacinth, anemone, scented narcissus varieties, early sweet william, winter flowering heather, skimmia and pittosporum. Late spring, just in time for mother’s Day, the first of our tulips begin flowering alongside iris, ranunculus, antirrhinum and alstroemeria.
<div id="attachment_2293" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2293" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2293" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min-200x300.jpg" alt="Statement Arrangement" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Statement_piece-min.jpg 852w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Late spring statement arrangement</div>
We can’t always guarantee particular flowers, but we can promise to send out the very best of what’s in flowers at any given time during the year.
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Thank you again for supporting our small flower farm and we hope to see you again soon.
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Bee Kind
Mags xx
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The flowers and foliage we use and what they support!

As I’m writing this the sun is shining and it’s a glorious spring day. It says its 8 degrees but it feels like 15 degrees. Hoverflies, bumblebees and a myriad of other flies are revelling in the sunny calm day. For all of us, it’s a welcome respite from what we’ve been used to!
My tips for this month are all centred around emerging queens from bumblebees to hoverflies. The need for different habitats, food and shelter.
The next few weeks are critical to successful colonies being raised and abundance of pollinators from mid-April onwards.
While they have been out and about foraging over the winter months this is the natural time for nest building and the first colonies, we can do so much to help make their lives a little easier no matter what size our garden is. If you’re considering making changes or expanding your planting areas there are few things you could consider such as nesting sites, shelter and food sources for pollen and nectar.
<div id="attachment_2830" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2830" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2830" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-300x201.jpg" alt="Bumblebee lucorum Queen on Mahonia December 3rd 2019" width="300" height="201" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200107_202730.jpg 1031w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Bumblebee Queen Bombus leucorum feasting on Mahonia December 3rd 2019</div>
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The next few weeks are critical to successful colonies being raised and abundance of pollinators from mid-April onwards.
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Each species has its own needs but if you can incorporate a mix of habitats all the better. These could include raised beds of dry-stone walls with pollinator-friendly plantings like dandelions, primroses, heathers and spring bulbs like Muscari, crocus and species tulips. Doing it this way not only provides shelter but a rich food source also.
<div id="attachment_3151" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3151" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3151" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-300x225.jpg" alt="Food and Shelter" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dry-stone-walls-with-mixed-flowering-hedge-1080x810.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Dry stone wall with mixed flowering hedge</div>
Patches of bare ground are necessary for most of our solitary bees, all that is needed is to clear a small patch 10cm by 10cm would be the minimum, but a metre squared would provide homes for many. Position it in a reasonably sunny sheltered area. Allow wild longer grassy patches to suit others that prefer tufted grass to nest in. Most of our wild bees are ground nesters but there are about 10 species that are cavity nesters and will use cavity blocks, decaying wood and thick hollow stems like bramble, bamboo and reed grass.
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Wildflowers are the most important sources of food for our pollinators they have co-evolved to support each other., and flower at a time when they are needed most. Bumblebees have a foraging distance of a kilometre, but solitary bees will only travel a few hundred metres. Therefore, urban gardens are becoming increasingly more important.
<div id="attachment_3149" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3149" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3149" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/geranium-mix-300x225.jpg" alt="Wildlife friendly planting" width="300" height="225" />Mixed border of pollinator-friendly plants</div>
In the greater countryside creating bee corridors can address the current lack of habitat and diminished food sources. I will devote a post on this subject over the coming weeks.
If you have room, mixed hedges will provide rich food sources and shelter including nesting sites. So many of these foods are edible for humans too, including Dandelion, primrose, daisies, gorse, willow crab-apple and hazel.
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Bumblebee queens which I’m most familiar with are getting ready to start their colonies but need to have a readily available source of nectar and pollen. Nectar as energy and pollen to plump up her ovaries and feed her brood.
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Willow, hazel and Alder are incredible sources of pollen all of which are edible in varying degrees.
<div id="attachment_3158" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3158" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3158" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Wildlife-friendly-garden-in-early-summer-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Wildlife-friendly-garden-in-early-summer-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Wildlife-friendly-garden-in-early-summer-510x382.jpg 510w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Wildlife-friendly-garden-in-early-summer.jpg 518w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Bumblebee Flower Farm wildlife-friendly garden in summer</div>
As she begins her nest, she will lay eggs and fashion a honey pot for herself just like birds she will brood them and feed herself from her honey pot. As they progress, she will need to forage for pollen to feed them but can’t be away too long as maintaining temperature is vital. Food sources near the nest are critical. Until she successfully rears the first batch, she must do everything. From mid-April, the first female workers emerge, and she will then remain in the nest rearing her young. The viability and strength of the colony are directly related to the quality and distance of the nest. So, patches dotted around are much better than a large single planting scheme but if that’s al you can manage please do it because every little helps!
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Summer containers are another great way of helping our pollinators even if you live in an apartment you can still do your bit. Compact nasturtiums are a great container plant, loved by bees and edible too. Soil grown ones are one of my top superfoods! All parts are edible, seed, leaf, stalk and flower, tastes amazing rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Medicinally they are a great blood cleanser and the leaves will ease a sore throat. The seeds can be pickled as poor man&#8217;s capers and the leaves and flowers make a fantastic pesto too.
<div id="attachment_3155" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3155" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3155" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/017-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Nasturtiums</div>
Bacopa and Bidens are popular bedding/hanging basket plants but they are also nectar-rich and would be welcome additions. As late-season flowers, herbs are without a doubt the best candidates. Rosemary early in the season followed by oregano and the mints late in the season. Some of the mints get bitter when the flower but Basil Mint and Grapefruit mint retain their fresh flavour.
<div id="attachment_1629" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1629" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1629" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min-1080x719.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Grapefruit-mint-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Grapefruit mint flowers</div>
If you would like to know more and get a peek into our world then we would love to see you at the first of our Open days on the farm on the 29th of March where we will have a talk, tour explaining different habitats, how to make a bug hotel that suits our native species. Including the most suitable situations.
We will also provide you with some pollinator-friendly seeds to take home to start your own bumblebee paradise.
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Eddie Attwell from the Glengarriff Eccles will be on hand with incredible products using produce grown on the farm and foraged locally. Eddie’s knowledge, passion and creativity are unsurpassed in West Cork!
<div id="attachment_2855" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2855" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2855" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Almost-there-300x200.jpg" alt="Table setting using edible flowers" width="300" height="200" />Incredible food prepared by Eddie using Bumblebee Flower Farm produce</div>
<div id="attachment_3154" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3154" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3154" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-1363x2048.jpg 1363w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-1080x1623.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KHB_8545-scaled.jpg 1704w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Eddie with the Big Green Egg</div>
Eva Milka and Eoin Jenkinson from Gaelic Escargot will also be in joining us, sharing their incredible journey into snail farming. With some interesting insights about their protein-rich product!
<div id="attachment_3156" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3156" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3156" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/20180607Gaelic-Escargot_123-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Eva Milka and Eoin Jenkinson of Gaelic Escargot</div>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3157" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GaelicEscargot-046-1080x720.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Looking forward to meeting you all.
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Bee Kind
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Mags xx
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The Importance of different Habitats!

What and when to plant
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Amidst all this uncertainty and downright scary stuff, today was one of those days that gave me real hope, taught me life goes on and if we help and support nature she will thrive.
<div id="attachment_2842" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2842" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2842" src="http://bbff.local/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-300x239.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="239" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-300x239.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum-768x613.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bombus-hypnorum.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Tree bumblebee B. hypnorum interesting ginger thorax with whitetail barely visible</div>
Birds are starting nests, bumblebee queens are emerging, overwintering butterflies are getting ready to lay summer butterfly babies. But today on the farm was a little different as if I was given a sign for hope! The sheer numbers of bumblebee queens, the like I’ve never seen before at this time of year, on one patch of heather alone I counted 11 bumblebees, 7 White-tailed Bombus Leucorun, 3 Buff-tailed Bombus Terrestris, and I Common Carder, Bombus Pascourum.
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It was like the M50, they were everywhere. I even saw my first Early bumblebee Bombus pratorum, our smallest bumblebee and by far the cutest. I know I keep saying plant winter heather and yesterday proved its worth in spades these along with Muscari are lifesaving plants.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-1652 aligncenter" src="http://bbff.local/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-min-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="367" height="551" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-min-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-min-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-min-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sunset-at-Bumblebee-Farm-min.jpg 852w" sizes="(max-width: 367px) 100vw, 367px" />
My rescue bumblebee from last January, Petula, is doing well and I see her every day now. I’m so pleased she has made it this far.
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We all have more time now for our gardens and can put it to good use which will be better for us too. As always don’t be too quick to tidy everything up, the dead stalks act as a home to many insects like overwintering ladybirds and solitary bees. Leave it another few weeks if you can. Leaf litter is also home to many creatures and breaks down slowly to provide rich humus for our soil.
If you leave mowing the lawn until mid-April the dandelions and daisies will be a rich food source for emerging pollinators.
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If you can allow 6 weeks between mowing, the clovers will have a chance to flower in June and feed so many.
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When you do tidy up, gather the twigs and spent stalks, bind them with a little string and place them somewhere in partial sun so creatures have a home.
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<div id="attachment_3155" style="width: 415px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3155" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-3155" src="http://bbff.local/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/017-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="405" height="270" />Nasturtiums</div>
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Think about your summer garden now and maybe grow your summer plants from seed this year. There are plenty of Irish seed companies that do mail-order like Seedaholic, Irish Seed Savers and The Organic Trust to name a few.
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Hardy annuals can be sown now on a sunny windowsill. Things like Cornflower, Calendula and Oxeye Daisy. All these are edible too, provided you get safe seed that is either organic or untreated. These can be direct sown too, but it might be safer to wait until April.
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Half hardies like Cosmos, Nasturtium, and Zinnias are wonderful additions to the mid to late summer garden, a magnet to pollinators and some of them are edible too. Cosmos sulphurous with their orange and yellow flowers are edible and low growing so don’t require staking. These are best sown under cover or you can wait until May to direct seed outdoors.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2582 aligncenter" src="http://bbff.local/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min-768x1150.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min-684x1024.jpg 684w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min.jpg 855w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />
The secret to a supportive garden for pollinators is having an uninterrupted supply of food all through the year. This has never been more important as more and more pollinators are forgoing full hibernation and forage right through the winter.
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Spring is also a critical time, when you think a queen must visit roughly 6000 flowers every day to get sufficient nectar and pollen to sustain her first brood. It does get easier for her by the end of April when the first lot of workers emerge but up until then, she has to do everything herself. So please do leave your dandelions, daisies and buttercups to flower they really can be the difference between life and death for them. No bumblebee queens mean no bumblebees in the summer.
I can’t begin to explain the joy at seeing these incredible creatures buzzing in my garden and seeing how the little things I do amount to so much. Here’s to looking at things differently and embracing the mess and seeing the virtues of our indigenous weeks as the best food source for our future.
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Summer planting for our Pollinators

<h4>Because of lockdown not a drop of roundup has been used in public places</h4>
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I’m sure I’m just like everyone else who swings for feeling really positive and motivated to downright despair and lethargy and everything in between. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions to be sure but there’s one constant helping keep me grounded and enabling me to continue my work despite the surreal madness we find ourselves imprisoned in.
Nature is recovering and thriving not just on my little piece of utopia but from the messages and social media interaction our pause has benefited her greatly. 
Because of lockdown not a drop of roundup has been used in public places and the increase in insect activity is incredible. We are not going to be in this situation for much longer and sadly the systemic poising of public places will regrettably resume. Which makes it all the more necessary for us as home gardeners to provide as much continuous nutrient-rich foods for them to thrive and in turn support us.
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<div id="attachment_3155" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3155" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3155" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/017-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Nasturtiums</div>
With our bumblebees the first workers are emerging, and the queen now has help rearing her brood, she will no longer leave the nest and will finish her lifecycle during late summer early Autumn.
If the number of Bumblebee Queens nesting with me this year are anything to go by then we going to be buzzing this summer!
The increased numbers will need extra food which is readily available for now due to the lack of spraying, but this may change so best to be prepared.
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<div id="attachment_2843" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2843" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2843" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1-300x243.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="243" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1-300x243.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-pratorum-1.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Early bumblebee B .pratorum</div>
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My go-to early summer foods are things that have lots of flowers on a single stem like nepeta (catmint) Centaurea Montana which has an incredible succession of delicious flowers and geraniums by that I mean true geraniums and cranesbills, not those vulgar pelargoniums that are bred purely for humans and are a nutritional desert devoid of any value. The only pelargoniums I would recommend are the scented geraniums that have very pretty petite nectar-rich flowers loved by bees.
Shrubs like Berberis turbergenii and all pittosporum bridge the hungry gap between spring and early summer when Cotoneasters, hawthorn and crab-apples elder and rowan fill our hedgerows and gardens.
Borage is such a valuable food source especially as it replenishes its nectar almost immediately and just keeps giving. I always allow self-seeding in the tunnels to have an early supply along with rosemary’s multitude of tiny flowers in the herb front. This would explain why they are always covered in pollinators.
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<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1623 aligncenter" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dianthus-min-300x232.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="232" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dianthus-min-300x232.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dianthus-min-768x593.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dianthus-min-1024x790.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dianthus-min-1080x834.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dianthus-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
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‘Weeds ‘like our dandelions are still rocking on with our common daisy, bellis, some clover is starting to make an appearance with the ox-eye daisy on its way too. Buttercups, birds-foot-trefoil and self-heal are equally beautiful. All these will flourish when herbicides are not used creating a beautiful tapestry of vital food sources for our struggling pollinators and their seeds a vital food source for our wild birds. These will grow beautifully amongst your borders creating an incredible bio-diverse landscape.
Annuals I wouldn’t be without are orlaya another beautiful umbellifer followed on by Ammi visnaga and magus, successional sowings provide cut flowers from May to October but in a garden situation deadheading would eliminate the need to re sow. 
Calendula, cornflower and all the dianthus family make great cut flowers and provide a varied rich diet.
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<div id="attachment_3467" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3467" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3467" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Rose-scented-geranium-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Rose-scented-geranium-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Rose-scented-geranium-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Rose-scented-geranium-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Rose-scented-geranium.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Rose scented geranium</div>

Nature is recovering and thriving

We are at a crossroads and the path we choose to take will have a direct bearing on the future&#8230;
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We have been gifted an incredible opportunity to create a world that can sustain us and provide a future for our children and grandchildren. To me, that is the greatest gift and legacy we can leave. It will require changes to our lifestyles and letting go of things that drive the destruction of our environment which in turn causes catastrophic events like Covid 19. 
We have choices and the power within in to create a better future. Never has there been a greater need for reconnection to the cycles of life and being aware of cause and effect. We are at a crossroads and the path we choose to take will have a direct bearing on the future we will create. 
Returning to instant gratification, cheap fashion and food will only fuel our own demise because these are the very things that ‘Cost the Earth’
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<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2284" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Altar_vase2-min-200x300.jpg" alt="Altar Display" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Altar_vase2-min-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Altar_vase2-min-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Altar_vase2-min-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Altar_vase2-min.jpg 852w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />
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We are pretty much self-sufficient here on the farm regarding our flowers and foliage so because of this were largely unaffected from a production point of view. Our daily like continued as normal. To us being a sustainable business means we provide food for the wildlife that lives with us while generating an income from these crops. Our criteria are different in so far as we only grow flowers that support biodiversity, provide nectar and pollen for our pollinators and safe habitats and shelter for all our wildlife. Our business model is circular with every action thought through to cause as little disturbance as possible, working in harmony with nature.
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<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2312" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/wedding__full-desi-mags-min-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/wedding__full-desi-mags-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/wedding__full-desi-mags-min-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/wedding__full-desi-mags-min-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/wedding__full-desi-mags-min-1080x719.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/wedding__full-desi-mags-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
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I’m an eternal optimist and hope we will all take responsibility for our actions and be more mindful of our surroundings and changing perspective. 
I love seeing ‘weeds’ flourish because these are the best food sources for our pollinators and birdlife from the humble dandelion as a nectar source for our bumblebees to the nutritious seeds for our Goldfinches. 
Willow herb is another favourite of mine especially the greater willow herb which is beautifully architectural in its own right but for me it’s the preferred food of the Elephant Hawk moth caterpillar one of our favourite residents.
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<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1632" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Heirloom-cucumber-Suyo-Long-min-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Heirloom-cucumber-Suyo-Long-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Heirloom-cucumber-Suyo-Long-min-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Heirloom-cucumber-Suyo-Long-min-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Heirloom-cucumber-Suyo-Long-min-1080x719.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Heirloom-cucumber-Suyo-Long-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
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Ragwort is another crop we wouldn’t be without as the Cinnabar Moth feeds almost exclusively on this and its eradication is driving its extinction. I realize if it makes its way in cattle’s winter food it is poisonous, and care needs to be taken in its planting. Its all about finding solutions that benefit all life, protecting the biodiversity needed to sustain all of us. 
We are working on the educational, supportive side of our business with online and limited on farm programmes.
We look forward to welcoming you to the farm again and sharing with you the knowledge we have amassed over the years on sustainable, organic wildlife gardening and flower farming
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<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1612" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Calendula-min-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Calendula-min-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Calendula-min-768x434.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Calendula-min-1024x578.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Calendula-min-1080x610.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Calendula-min.jpg 1199w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

Creating a better world for our children and grandchildren

Hydrangeas, they’re the staple of so many late summer gardens and a group of shrubs I wouldn’t be without. The variety, colour selection and shapes fascinate me and most meet 2 of my 3 criteria in being a fantastic cut flower and a brilliant food source for our pollinators. For ease I’m going to split them into 2 groups, The paniculata’s and the Mopheads.
<div id="attachment_3499" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3499" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3499" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2023-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2023-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2023.jpg 683w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Hydrangea september 2020</div>
The paniculata’s flower on new wood so can be cut back hard in spring giving you long straight stems with huge flower heads, they can grow quite large but are easy to keep to a desired height because of this. Paniculata ‘Limelight and the lacy ‘Unique are 2 beautiful varieties that I would highly recommend and are easy to maintain suiting a semi shaded position, although will happily grow in full sun too.
While the mopheads flower on the previous years growth so if you’re cutting back only go to the first or second set of double buds otherwise, you’re cutting off next years flower. Larger more mature shrubs will benefit from thinning out weaker crossing stems and it really pays of to go deep into the plant as close to the base as you can. ‘Ayesha’ is a stunning variety which looks like small trusses of Lilacs. I can’t recommend this variety enough, for it’s changing colour over the season to the long-lasting flowers in a vase but for me it’s the beautiful shape and texture of the flower heads and My pollinators LOVE it!
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<div id="attachment_3497" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3497" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3497" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2021-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2021-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2021-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2021.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Hydrangea September 2020 with hover fly</div>
I don’t deadhead or tidy up until late spring for a few reasons, mainly because the spent flowers give shelter to a wide range of insects which emerge safely in spring to act as a natural predator. It’s symbiotic, I provide them with shelter, and they provide me with pest control.
The garden can begin to look a little tired by now but there are still plants worth investing in to give a great show next autumn like Sedums and Michaelmas daisy. Both of these flower late in the season and if you give some of the Chelsea chop you can extend this well into October. It’s called the Chelsea chop because around the time of the flower show is the best time to do this and as a bonus all the trimmings can be potted up and used to create new plants thus increasing your crops. Win Win!
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<div id="attachment_3504" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3504" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3504" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2020-4272-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2020-4272-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Farm-2020-4272.jpg 683w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Hydrangea and Anemones</div>
A garden evolves, you’re always planning ahead but that’s part of the fun too. 
Our next open day on the 27th of September will be much more plant focused with recommendations on getting your garden ready for winter, what to plant to support our pollinators to ensure a beautiful garden for you and food for them.
They’ve been busy this year and we have surplus seed left over so as a thank you we will be putting a mixed selection in with every bouquet ordered so you can have a little bit of Bumblebee magic in your own garden.
If there are any voluntary groups that possibly work with disadvantaged children or other such groups that could benefit from our seeds then please do get in touch, we’d be only to delighted to help by giving some of our seed to help you.
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We have a selection of short videos on seed saving and deadheading on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_1Ry-tpAgpw7FX0ngQLUjA">YouTube channel </a>which may be of help, I know for me seeing something always makes things clearer. We do add regularly and if there is anything specific, you’d like to know then please do get in touch.
Until next time
Bee Kind Mags xx
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Hydrangeas &#8211; The staple of late summer gardens

As we are all adjusting to our new normal its all go here preparing for our Open Day on the 16th of August. 
A full season and cycle have passed since our original planned date of 29th March where we would have been full of hope for a successful season for all our inhabitants! Nature has been a winner due to Covid and she has responded so well to the quiet.  It’s been heart-warming to see how involved people have become and all the wonderful supportive things being put into place like eliminating spraying of roadside verges and weeding and hoeing instead. 
Our focus and attention at this time of year is on ensuring enough food for newly emerging Queens to get them ready for hibernation Although early emerging Bumblebees like our white tailed and buff tailed will start a second cycle now and more often than not these two no longer go into hibernation and forage all winter long which is why a full cycle of nectar rich food is becoming increasingly necessary.
<div id="attachment_3070" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3070" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3070 size-medium" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ATWC-farm-tour1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ATWC-farm-tour1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ATWC-farm-tour1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ATWC-farm-tour1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ATWC-farm-tour1-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ATWC-farm-tour1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Bumblebee Flower Farm open day</div>
We love to tread lightly here on the farm, work by hand to cause as little disturbance to wildlife as we possibly can. This does make our work more labour intensive but biodiversity, safe habitats and soil health are our rewards. 
We do hope we can show you how some of these ways can easily be implemented in your own gardens and how beautiful wildflowers aka ‘weeds’ look, feel and support a healthy ecosystem. These we allow to flourish purely to support our wildlife whereas the nectar and pollen rich flowers we grow as our cut and edible produce are a stunning example of how diverse and beautiful a pollinator friendly garden can look like. Our aim is to dispel some myths, give sound advice on what works for us in our local area and show you in real time how it all unites to create a rich tapestry teaming with life. 
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<div id="attachment_1630" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1630" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1630" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hand-harvesting-min-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hand-harvesting-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hand-harvesting-min-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hand-harvesting-min-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hand-harvesting-min-1080x719.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hand-harvesting-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Mags harvesting</div>
We are booked out for the 16th of August but if you would like to know more and get a peek into our world then we would love to see you at the last of our Open days on the farm on the 27th of September where as usual we will have a talk, tour  explaining different habitats, how to make a bug hotel that suits our native species. Including the most suitable situations. Our focus here will be on getting your garden ready for the winter, what we can do to help our struggling pollinators, create beautiful supporting habitats and bee corridors to support the wider environment.
As always, we will also provide you with some pollinator friendly seeds to take home to start your own bumblebee paradise.
<div id="attachment_3152" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3152" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3152" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Eddie-300x160.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="160" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Eddie-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Eddie.jpg 620w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Eddie Attwell, head chef at the Eccles Glengarrif</div>
 
 For our 16th August, Eddie Attwell from the Glengarriff Eccles will be on hand with incredible products using produce grown on the farm and foraged locally. Eddie’s knowledge, passion and creativity are unsurpassed in West Cork! Eva Milka from Gaelic Escargot will also be in joining us, sharing her incredible journey into snail farming. With some interesting insights about her protein rich product! We are still finalising our line up for the 27th of September so stay tuned!
<div id="attachment_3156" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3156" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3156" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/20180607Gaelic-Escargot_123-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Eva Milka and Eoin Jenkinson of Gaelic Escargot</div>
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Looking forward to meeting you all.
Bee Kind
Mags xx

Nature has been a winner due to Covid19

Hello September! I made a new year’s resolution not to be late with my article submissions back in January and like so many resolutions it didn’t last very long. I do try but wearing all hats there never seems to be enough hours in the day! January was part of another world when we all probably had different plans and aspirations. Covid changed everything for so many of us but sometimes a total shock, stopped in our tracks is needed to realise what’s really important and what has real value. My driving force is saving humanity from extension, to be part of the solution and help create a better world, one that’s connected, supportive and places real value on our natural world because without it’s health we’re doomed to a terrifying existence of Covid like experiences. We can do so much to help create a better future for ourselves, our children, and grandchildren, one that we can be proud of. 
<div id="attachment_2840" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2840" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2840" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen-300x237.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="237" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen-300x237.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bombus-lucorum-Queen.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Stunning shot of white tailed bumblebee B. lucorum Image from Bumblebee conservation</div>
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We had our Open day here on the 16th of August it did my heart good to see so many people willing to do their bit and wanting to be part of the solution. I passionately believe in the power of One! If we all do a little bit, it can amount to a whole lot. 
I won’t deny how incredibly difficult this year has been, trying to do everything on my own with almost no help on the farm. From March to October I would normally have 2 to 4 woofers helping here so we would have looked a lot tidier and more presentable so to speak. So many times, I thought of cancelling, but we have an important message to get out there and the knowledge I’ve gathered over the years needs to be shared. 
<div id="attachment_1622" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1622" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1622" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dahlias2-min-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dahlias2-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dahlias2-min-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dahlias2-min-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dahlias2-min-1080x719.jpg 1080w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dahlias2-min.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Dahlia tunnel</div>
My focus is on our struggling pollinators and growing nectar rich flowers that support them. We have 3 criteria, a good food source, edible for humans and a great cut flower. They must meet at least 2 of these to be part of our crops. A rich food source for our pollinators is non negotiable this is a must, some are great cut flowers; some are edible for humans and some are all three.  
The purpose of our open days is to show how incredibly beautiful and diverse a pollinator friendly garden can look like, the food that can be produced from edible flowers and changing perspective on our native wildflowers.
<div id="attachment_3494" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3494" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3494" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG-20200825-WA0036-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG-20200825-WA0036-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG-20200825-WA0036.jpg 683w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Tortoiseshell butterfly on hydrangea</div>
We have a second open day on the 27th of September where we will be focusing more on the plants and planting schemes that support nature through the full year. With climate change so many creatures are no longer hibernating and forage throughout the year so its critical to have a year-round supply of food for them. For us, it’s all about embracing the changing seasons and celebrating the very best mother nature has to offer with help from our cultivated range of blooms. We would love you to join us for a little glimpse into the world of a Pollinators Paradise and sample the extraordinary nutrient rich foods that can be produced from crops you can grow on your doorstep.
Booking can be done on our website <a href="http://www.bumbebeeflowerfarm.ie">www.bumbebeeflowerfarm.ie</a>. So, looking forward to meeting you all. Until then Bee Kind. Mags xx
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Hello September

<div id="attachment_3518" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3518" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3518 size-medium" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5112-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5112-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5112.jpg 683w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Mags in the Dahlia tunnel</div>
The change in temperatures, light and overall look of the garden is so obvious now we’re heading into October. I must admit I’m enjoying the changes, it’s such a beautiful time of the year. Here on the farm it’s all about getting ready for spring with tulip and narcissus planting season well under way.
If you haven’t already invested in some spring bulbs, I highly recommend it, there’s nothing to compare to the cheer they’ll bring from January onwards. It’s getting late for crocus, and daffodils but still worth it. Tulips on the other hand are best left to be planted until early November as the tips can get damaged in early spring by frosts but you could pop a few into a pot to have a little garden on your table come spring. Lasagne planting is a great way to extend the reason in pots as indoor and outdoor planters. A decent sized pot with good drainage and added grit at the bottom, a layer of compost, Largest and latest flowering bulbs first like tulips another layer of compost followed by Daffodils and lastly some crocus and muscari. These will flower from February right through to April and you’ll be so glad you did. 
<div id="attachment_3528" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3528" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3528" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5145-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5145-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5145.jpg 683w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Gunnera</div>
Take some photos now while the trees and deciduous shrubs are still in leaf and in a few weeks when they’re gone it’s so handy to reference where you’d like to make changes. I love when the leaves fall because you get a real sense of the garden structure its laid bare but holds the promise of late winter with my all-time favourite winter flowers like hellebores, snowdrops, and our native primrose. These almost indestructible plants will crank out flowers no matter what the weather throws at them and as they’re woodland natives they can fill those summer shady locations like beacons of light and life. I’ve noticed my mahonia sending out flower spikes it will fill the air with its delicious scent, feed my pollinators who have foregone hibernation and in turn it will bear beautiful black berries to feed my blackbirds and thrushes in the spring. 
Scent is so important in Winter as it’s a lure for pollinators and we get to benefit from it too. Shrubs like Saracocca sweet Christmas box, a beautiful winter flowering shade loving plant that out of flower you’d completely ignore but come winter It is a star! Equally Winter Honeysuckle with its sweet fragrance filling the air on those still crisp winter mornings is an utter joy.
<div id="attachment_3516" style="width: 178px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3516" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3516" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5118-168x300.jpg" alt="" width="168" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5118-168x300.jpg 168w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BBBF-OCT-5118.jpg 572w" sizes="(max-width: 168px) 100vw, 168px" />Mint going over, it&#8217;s always left for out pollinators even when we don&#8217;t use it as bouquet foliage</div>
Viburnums are another star of the winter garden both the deciduous types like ‘Bodnantense’, and evergreen ‘Eve price’. But the workhorse for me is Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’. All these shrubs provide a vital winter food source for our pollinators while giving us joy and colour in what can be a drab time of the year.
These will all be available in good garden centres now and this is a great month to get them in so they can establish before the onset of winter.
I hope you’ll find these suggestions useful and together we can build pollinator corridors while giving pleasure to ourselves.
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Bee Kind
Mags

Helping pollinators in October

Christmas is a time of celebration and relaxation but there’s a dark side to the waste created and the negative impact of so many industries including floriculture.
There’s always another way of doing things and if your prepared to stand back look at things from a different perspective you can usually find a way forward. I became aware of the negative impact of the industry I’m in about 12 years ago and it saddened my to see the destruction of habitats, poisoning of vital water resources and abuse of women and children but it took me a further five years to be completely separate from it and champion only using my own produce. The fear of losing a potential customer because you weren’t able to provide a particular flower drove this dependence. I did lose work at that time, but I was doing it for the greater good and our wildlife was growing. Protecting our environment is central to all that we do here and providing a rich food source for our pollinators and we were also more aware of the crisis we were facing on a global and local level. Standing up for what you believe in isn’t always easy and can be a lonely place at times, but someone has to take responsibility and lead the way to show it can be done.
<div id="attachment_3538" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3538" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3538" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00074-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00074-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00074-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00074.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Fionn Mac Cumhaill Wreath</div>
We had always made an exception for oranges that we bought in and dehydrated ourselves but beautiful as they are our ethos is more important. Irish apples which we dehydrate here on the farm are a more fitting ingredient. Provenance has also been an important consideration here and using ingredients that celebrate the Irish landscape in any given season while incorporating life giving ingredients for our wildlife. We feel that our Christmas offerings need to reflect this so beautiful as they are, we will no longer be using oranges in our products as we feel our ethos is more important. We have incorporated Irish apples which I think are incredibly beautiful and means our products are now truly Irish.
<div id="attachment_3539" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3539" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3539" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00110-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00110-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00110.jpg 683w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Mags with Gráinne Wreath</div>
The main reason we only use produce grown here and foraged locally is to protect our pollinators and wildlife. Not knowing the full implications of the damage from the chemicals used in imported flowers and foliage is a risk I’m not willing to take. I have at the very least a moral responsibility to protect these creatures because I I invited them in by creating the habitats and ecosystems for them to live and more importantly our pollinators are in crisis which means we are too so what we do here is actually for all our benefit long term.
I do appreciate our products are out of some people’s price range but production costs, staff wages and VAT contributions are the main reasons. Taking our Amaryllis as an example, I could buy three imported cut flowers for the price of my wholesale bulb. Short term economic sense to some but the cost long term to the earth isn’t!
Story as an analogy: man buys frozen turkey for €6 brags about his bargain, farmer is shocked and dismayed as he pays €9 for a pullet (baby turkey) rears, feeds and cares for it for six months before its ready. We all have choices as to which product we’ll buy.
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This year has shown the perilous situation of our disconnection with the cycle of life and how we seem to have forgotten we’re part of nature and not separate from it. Covid 19 is a symptom of how we’re destroying our planet, a vaccine will treat the symptom, but the root cause is still there and won’t go away unless we start protecting the precious resource we live on.
<div id="attachment_3540" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3540" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3540" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00091-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00091-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00091-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Christmas-Oct-31st-2020-00091.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Wreath Close Up</div>
What we do here and the way we do things are part of the solution for a future that can support us, our children, and grandchildren.
Bee Kind
Mags

Floristry for A future

It has been such a hectic few weeks that I&#8217;m only getting around to writing this blog post now. I&#8217;m incredibly proud and humbled to have not only won the regional &#8216;Solo Businesswoman&#8217; award in my local branch of Network Ireland, but I also got to represent Network West Cork and received highly commended. To look back and see how far my business has come, especially since March, I feel motivated to continue spreading my message and the joy my flowers bring and I thank all at Network Ireland for all their support.
<div id="attachment_3544" style="width: 235px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3544" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3544" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/b5513a6f-8f17-4668-9bf2-92e0048e33a1-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/b5513a6f-8f17-4668-9bf2-92e0048e33a1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/b5513a6f-8f17-4668-9bf2-92e0048e33a1.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />Mags receiving her award from President of Network West Cork, Caroline Murphy</div>
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I had never been so excited or motivated for the coming season! This year was going to be the culmination of hard work over the previous seven or eight years, training, and overcoming personal difficulties but when lockdown was announced, everything changed overnight, everything was wiped out. That sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as the influx of emails cancelling or postponing filled my inbox and was one of the most terrifying moments I had experienced. I’ve had challenges in my life, but nothing compared to this. My mother always told me I had the heart of a lion and never more than now did I need to call on this
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<div id="attachment_3545" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3545" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3545" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3432-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3432-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3432-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3432-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3432.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />L to R. Anne-Marie Kingston of White Sage Decluttering, Barbara Noonan Sexton of Barbara Noonan Homeopathy, Caroline Murphy , NIWC President, Mags Riordan of Bumblebee Flower Farm and Marie Wiseman of Wiser Marketing, winners at the Network Ireland West Cork 2020 Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Photo by Dermot Sullivan</div>
My flowers still needed to be harvested, the natural growing cycle didn’t stop because of Covid-19. I knew my pivot had to be quick so I took to Twitter and explained I was swimming in flowers and could deliver nationwide. The outpouring of support was unbelievable and overnight my business was transformed. I turned a crop largely destined as an edible one to online bouquet deliveries. I have nearly been in tears on the phone to customers who have received bouquets from us who have shared their deeply personal reasons for why our blooms mean so much. It&#8217;s an incredible feeling to evoke such a positive feeling anyway, let alone in a year such as this.
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My business depended on woofers, these are people who work on my farm to gain a greater knowledge of organic farming and in my case also edible flower farming. Covid ended that but I’m very resilient and just got on with it. I have changed this model now and have volunteers come to the farm to help and then leave.
Throughout it all, giving up wasn’t an option. It just isn’t in my vocabulary. There is always a way forward, you just need to stand back and look at things from a different angle and have incredible friends to bounce ideas off.
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My environmental credentials are long established but to receive a business award and get the recognition from well-established business people in the community and my branch of Network Ireland West Cork, it’s real validation. This is proof you can follow your dreams and achieve them. 
So once again, the biggest of &#8220;thank you&#8217;s&#8221; to my wonderful friends, family, fellow Network Ireland members and most importantly our customers. I couldn&#8217;t have achieved all I have done so far this year without the help of all of you. I&#8217;m still beaming from it!
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Bee kind,
Mags x
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<div id="attachment_3547" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3547" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3547" src="http://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3434-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3434-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3434-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3434-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_3434.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Mags Riordan of Bumblebee Flower Farm, winner of the Solo Businesswoman Award at the Network Ireland West Cork 2020 Businesswoman of the Year Awards. with Caroline Murphy , NIWC President. Photo by Dermot Sullivan</div>

Pivots Pay Off

When we do things with purpose, it has so much more meaning but it also helps keep us motivated even when things go wrong.
My motivation is my grandson Ollie because I desperately want him to have a future. More than that, a future that’s worth living. By following this plan you’re helping to build a safer future for all our children and grandchildren.
This is so much more than just a cut flower patch. It’s the beginnings of a network of pollinator corridors that as it grows can link up across the country providing an unbroken food source. It’s a law of return, we’re helping our pollinators and they’re keeping our future safe. And we’ll have a beautiful bounty of cut and edible flowers to fill our homes. I’d love this to become a platform to where we can connect share and learn more about our wild insects.
Our future selves will be very grateful for what we’re doing today.
<div id="attachment_3556" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3556" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3556" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DSC00680-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DSC00680-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DSC00680-684x1024.jpg 684w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DSC00680-768x1149.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DSC00680-1027x1536.jpg 1027w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DSC00680.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Mags with her grandson Ollie</div>
<a href="http://www.biodiversityireland.ie" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.biodiversityireland.ie&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611528949555000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHYej687Rchkp4ST6DAWkr9YNF0dA">biodiversityireland.ie</a> is an incredible resource and a wealth of information. I encourage you all to sign up to their newsletter and I’m hoping you’ll get involved with their Fixed insect timed count, FIT count for short. it’s a 10-minute timed count on a specific area and as your flower patch grows can also be done here. This will provide valuable information which could be added to the citizen science portal on Biodiversity Ireland&#8217;s website. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&amp;v=lrKqKm3dRV8&amp;feature=emb_logo">I’ve added a short video</a> to give you an idea of what it’s about so we can all do this on our Instagram live.
By the end of the summer, we’ll all be wildlife gardening with a purpose in a fun family orientated way.
The plan is a suggestion and if there are other flowers you’d prefer to grow then by all means do. That’s the beauty of the live Q &amp; A &#8211; I can answer any questions you may have.
I picked this selection for several reasons, they’re reasonably easy, long flowering period, mainly edible and similar spacing requirements. There are better pollinator plants which we can chat about as we move along and get to know our wild cousins and their supports, values and uses.
<h3>Possible seed sources:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Seedaholic has a vast range but is incredibly busy and you can only place orders at certain times of the week. Do check the website.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.seedaholic.com" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.seedaholic.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611528949555000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGT_dui-gw0d6GugCci8qmv21HcUQ">seedaholic.com</a>
<ul>
<li>These are limited now, but do get in contact as they may be on their way.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.theorganiccentre.ie/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.theorganiccentre.ie&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611528949555000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFDWKpBMtGiF0TFf50fuuS6qoFLNg">theorganiccentre.ie</a>
<a href="https://irishseedsavers.ie" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://irishseedsavers.ie&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611528949555000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH0CwwODuvQwKSMHEIDrIASU6Y2ug">irishseedsavers.ie</a>
As most of the recommendations are also edible try and get organic seed or at the very least untreated seed. Seed for garden use can be treated with toxic chemicals not suitable for human consumption and possibly pose a danger to the pollinators you’re trying to help.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2582 alignright" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min-768x1150.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min-684x1024.jpg 684w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nasturtium-min.jpg 855w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />
I’ve named some varieties because some like calendula and marigold’s have short bedding versions which you wouldn’t get enough stem length to cut from. You’ll need a stem length between 30cm &amp; 45cm to allow for cutting.
Most of the seeds are hardy annuals meaning they will tolerate cold apart from cosmos, nasturtium and zinnia. These are called half hardy and are best planted after all danger of frost has passed so could be left until April to sow seed.
The sow dates are also flexible as some of you are further north and will have a later last frost date. There’s absolutely no problem with waiting to sow until April and planting out early June.
We have recommended the 3 mints for different reasons.
<ul>
<li>Basil mint is the best for cooking, has the highest concentration of oil and is a hell of a lot easier to keep growing than regular basil with the added minty bonus. Fantastic addition to nasturtium pesto. Good pollinator mint.</li>
<li>Grapefruit mint is by far the best pollinator mint we grow here on the farm, adored by bees, hoverflies and butterflies. It also makes a beautiful refreshing tea.</li>
<li>Apple mint. This is the hug in our bouquets. I owe this mint so much for all the emotional support it’s given me over the years. It smells fantastic, tastes amazing and is divine to the touch. Good for pollinators too.</li>
</ul>
Mint can be grown from seed but they will take time to establish enough to cut from them. Plants are the only way to ensure a cut flower foliage this year. I’m researching a possible retail supplier to recommend for my suggested varieties and will let you know when I do.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3557 alignleft" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Farm-2020-3280-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Farm-2020-3280-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Farm-2020-3280-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Farm-2020-3280.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />We do have a limited supply of plants but they are part of our <a href="https://bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/shop/products/dahlia-collection?bbv_title=pollinator-friendly">pollinator dahlia collection</a> which are available on our shop.
Bed preparation is key, Get this right and everything else will be so much easier and better.
Well-rotted manure helps with soil structure, water retention and soil fertility. Sandy light soils benefit by helping to bind them together whereas heavy clay soils are loosened up allowing access to nutrients and aiding drainage. A slow-release organic fertiliser like chicken pellets or fish blood and bone added at this time becomes available over a long period giving a steady supply of nutrients. We will also be making compost teas to use a foliar feed over the season as this boosts the plants immune system and encourages good growth and an abundance of cut stems.
We will have some remarkably interesting guests as we move through the year covering lots of interesting topics.
A newsletter will go out at the start of each month as a reminder of what you may need for each month. So looking forward to growing community with you all.
Bee kind
Mags xx
<div id="attachment_3567" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3567" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3567" src="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GOL-2020-2978-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GOL-2020-2978-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GOL-2020-2978-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GOL-2020-2978-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GOL-2020-2978-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GOL-2020-2978-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.bumblebeeflowerfarm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GOL-2020-2978-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />A beautiful bee-friendly Gift of Life bouquet from 2020</div>
<h3>Schedule for Instagram live sessions with topics covered:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Sunday January 17th          4pm     Introduction</li>
<li>Sunday February 14th        4pm    Bed preparation</li>
<li>Sunday March 21st             4pm     Seed sowing</li>
<li>Sunday April 18th               4pm     Seed sowing, potting on, planting mint in pots and submerging in soil.</li>
<li>Sunday May 16th                4pm    Planting up the bed.</li>
<li>Sunday June 20th              4pm    Staking and plant support. Possible first harvest.</li>
<li>Sunday July 18th                4pm    Harvesting, creating bouquets for your home.</li>
<li>Sunday August 22nd          4pm   Using edible as an ingredient, recipes, creative ways to use.</li>
<li>Sunday September 26th    4pm   Preserving for winter stocks.</li>
</ul>

Ollie’s Garden – 2021 Pollinator Planting Plan

Pivots Pay Off

Floristry for A future

Helping pollinators in October

Hydrangeas – The staple of late summer gardens

Hello September

Nature has been a winner due to Covid19

Creating a better world for our children and grandchildren

Nature is recovering and thriving

Summer planting for our Pollinators

The Importance of different Habitats

The flowers and foliage we use and what they support

Sustainable Wedding Flowers

5 ways to make your Valentines day more Eco-friendly

The positive effects of Seasonal blooms

Why we need certain flowers for early emerging Queens

Getting Started

Provenance, what is it